Saturday, July 1, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jessica Hayssen, 651-261-8559
Minneapolis–Today, grocery workers who were slated to walk off the job last Thursday morning instead overwhelmingly ratified their next two year contract with Lunds & Byerlys that provides historic wage increases and pay equity to the 2,500 workers at 22 Lunds & Byerlys stores throughout the western metro.
The vote took place at ten store locations around the western metro beginning at 8am, and UFCW Local 663 members counted and tallied votes after polls closed at 6pm.
Members of UFCW Local 663 are looking forward to average raises of $3.00 to $4.00 an hour by Spring of 2024.
“I’ve never seen so many part time wage increases and I’m excited for them! They work hard and they deserve it. They are a major part of this team–from deli, bakery, online, up front, you name it,” said Anita Pitcher, a 45 year union member who works full time at the Maple Grove Lunds & Byerlys in the deli.
Part time courtesy and custodial positions will also see significant wage gains. All courtesy and custodial with five plus years of service before ratification will receive wage increases of $3.00 an hour. Traditionally, this position had no wage scale. The gains won today will bring them closer to the regular part time scale.
“We’re excited to expand the courtesy and custodial scale and bring it closer to the regular part time scale. When I talked with courtesy and custodial members at my store, they were relieved to hear that they’ll have more opportunity to build better lives with this increase,” said Charlie Mullen, assistant produce manager at Nokomis Lunds & Byerlys.
Workers were also able to win steps towards pay equity including a joint labor management committee to set parameters and implement the first phase of pay equity adjustments by this fall to impacted employees with at least five years of service.
“It was great to see the smiles on my coworkers’ faces when they read the agreement today. This contract is truly historic. In the 35 years I’ve been in the retail grocery industry, I’ve never seen such a rich contract. Cub paved the way for us. They set the standard for wages. Lunds & Byerlys has now set the new standard for the grocery industry,” said Rosemary Luoma from the St. Louis Park Lunds & Byerlys location.
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United Food and Commercial Workers Local 663 is a union of more than 17,000 hard-working essential workers in retail, meat packing and processing, food preparation and manufacturing and healthcare in Minnesota led by President Rena Wong. We strive to improve the lives of our members and of all working families by fighting for economic, political, and social justice in our workplaces and communities. Local 663 is part of the 1.3 million-member United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.